I can't get over how beautiful New Zealand is. I've seen a decent amount in the last 4 days, I just wish I had more time here. I decided to come at the last minute, booked my flight and was here 3 days later. I came on my own, but really haven't been alone for more than a few hours since I got here. Before I'd even left the airport in Christchurch I'd found 2 people from Mexico City who were staying in the same hostel as me. They were so sweet and even waited 40 minutes for me while I had all of my luggage searched for a random security check (luckily I brought next to nothing). The woman who searched my stuff was more nervous than I was, and awkwardly tried to make small talk while doing her job - she'd start asking about my trip, then ask if I brought any medications, then ask if I did drugs, then ask about Canada.. until about 1 am. I took the shuttle with the people I'd met to the hostel, and of course they had no record of my reservation.. luckily they had rooms available and I wasn't left to sleep on the streets my first night. We all went for a short walk around Christchurch, but it was nearly 2 am by then and it was like a ghost town.
The next morning I met another girl in my room who happened to be on the same flight as me the night before, and who was also staying with family in Melbourne. We got along really well and spent the next 2 days exploring the city together. It's a really beautiful place, a bit quiet, but with huge beautiful gardens and lots of little cafes (which we couldn't afford).
Oh, and there was another girl from Canada in my room who was so helpful; she'd just finished teaching in Indonesia for a year and had so much advice for me and my trip there, and the rest of SE Asia.
Friday night there was a crazy Hell themed work party at the bar below our hostel, which was so funny. I think I've been hanging out with too many British people, because I met a guy who was CONVINCED I was British? So weird.
Saturday I took the train across the country to Greymouth. The scenery was so incredibly beautiful, I couldn't believe it. My internet time is running out so I have to end this now pretty much.. umm today I took a bus up the Nelson, which is at the top of the South Island, and tomorrow I'm going to Abel Tasman national park which is supposed to be incredible ( look here if you want to get jealous :) http://www.abeltasman.co.nz). I'm here for another week and will be making my way up the North Island, which should be amazing.
